DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-53,549

GE GROUP LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to Apply for
Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The investigation was initiated on November 17, 2003, in
response to a petition filed by a state agency representative on
behalf of workers at GE Group Life Assurance Company, a subsidiary
of General Electric Company, Greenfield, Massachusetts. Workers at
the subject facility are engaged in the processing and adjudication
of insurance claims.
The investigation revealed that the petitioning workers of
this firm or subdivision do not produce an article within the
meaning of Section 222 of the Act. The Department of Labor has
consistently determined that the performance of services does not
constitute production of an article, as required by Section 222 of
the Trade Act of 1974, and this determination has been upheld in
the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Workers at the firm or subdivision may be certified only if
their separation was caused importantly by a reduced demand for
their services from a parent firm, a firm otherwise related to
their firm by ownership, or a firm related by control. Addition-
ally, the reduction in demand for services must originate at a
production facility whose workers independently meet the statutory
criteria for certification, and the reduction must directly relate
to the product impacted by imports. These conditions have not been
met for workers at this facility.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of
1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of its investigation regarding certification
of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
(ATAA) for older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be certified
eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA). Since the
workers are denied eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers cannot
be certified eligible for ATAA.


Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of GE Group
Life Assurance Company, a subsidiary of General Electric Company,
Greenfield, Massachusetts are denied eligibility to apply for
adjustment assistance under section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974,
and are also denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 24th day of November 2003.

/s/ Richard Church
______________________________
Richard Church
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance